I recently traveled to Texas for business and the current political climate was the topic of many side conversations. After dinner one night, a colleague said, “You know, I try to remember that despite our differences, we’re all just people.”

We had been treated graciously by everyone we encountered and we reciprocated in kind. I stated that two of our neighbors have polar opposite political views to mine; we are friendly, but not friends. Yet I said that I have no doubt that if our house was burning they’d be right there with the bucket brigade — and we for them.  Because after all, we’re all just people. 

Politics has come to rely upon oversimplified “us vs. them” messaging because it is much easier to sell than wading into the myriad shades of gray that more accurately reflect today’s world. Ugly vitriol does nothing to change minds, it just deepens the divide.

Imagine how different it would be if we voiced that ugliness directly to someone at the grocery store instead of online or with a vulgar bumper sticker. Most of us don’t because it is much more difficult to hate up close. And most of us don’t hate each other because in reality, most of us live somewhere in those shades of gray, not in the black or white absolutes of political soundbites. Because we’re all just people, even if politicians seek to divide us just to win elections.

Sarah Sweet
Topsham